Boc cleavage using sulphuric acid in dichloromethane

12 August 2005

Italian chemists* have found a simple alternative to trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) for the deprotection of Boc-amines and the cleavage of tert-butyl esters. Using a stoichiometric amount of 96% sulphuric acid in dichloromethane at room temperature, very high yields are achievable. The method is claimed to be simple, cheap, eco-friendly and safe (although perhaps an alternative to CH_²Cl_² would be better!).

* P. Strazzolini et al., Tetrahedron Letters, 2005, 46, 2075-2078.